Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan: strategic environmental assessment post-adoption statement

Appendix B. Consultation Questions

A public consultation on the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan^[23] ran from 29 July to 19 October 2025. Across 15 open and 17 closed questions, the consultation sought stakeholders’ views on the Plan and how it could be implemented. The consultation questions are provided below (please see the published public consultation for full details of questions).

Themes 1:

• Question 1: On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you prioritise each of the objectives in this theme?
• Question 2: Please choose for each action in this theme whether it should be: included in this plan, reserved for the future, or not included.
• Question 3: Is there any further information you would like to share with us on the objectives or actions in this theme?

Theme 2:

• Question 4: On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you prioritise each of the objectives in this theme?
• Question 5: Please choose for each action set out in this theme whether it should be included in this plan, reserved for the future, or not included.
• Question 6: Is there any further information you would like to share with us on the objectives or actions in this theme? This could include your reasons for selecting the answers to the previous two questions, or any further reflections on the overall content of the theme.

Theme 3:

• Question 7: On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you prioritise each of the objectives in this theme?
• Question 8: Please choose for each action set out in this theme whether it should be included in this plan, reserved for the future, or not included.
• Question 9: Is there any further information you would like to share with us on the objectives or actions in this theme? This could include your reasons for selecting the answers to the previous two questions, or any further reflections on the overall content of the theme.

Theme 4:

• Question 10: On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you prioritise each of the objectives in this theme?
• Question 11: Please choose for each action set out in this theme whether it should be included in this plan, reserved for the future, or not included.
• Question 12: Is there any further information you would like to share with us on the objectives or actions in this theme? This could include your reasons for selecting the answers to the previous two questions, or any further reflections on the overall content of the theme.

Theme 5:

• Question 13: On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you prioritise each of the objectives in this theme?
• Question 14: Please choose for each action set out in this theme whether it should be:
• Question 15: Is there any further information you would like to share with us on the objectives or actions in this theme? This could include your reasons for selecting the answers to the previous two questions, or any further reflections on the overall content of the theme.

Plan implementation and review:

• Question 16: Overall, do you think this plan will support acceleration of restoration in Scottish coasts and waters?
• Question 17: Do you agree with the content of the plan?
• Question 18: Are there any actions or objectives that you feel are missing and should be included and prioritised for the first Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan?
• Question 19: Noting that we will develop a monitoring and evaluation approach for implementation and review of the plan, do you have any comments you wish us to consider at this stage?

Impact assessments:

• Question 20: Do you think that the SEA Environmental Report is an accurate representation of the potential impacts (positive or negative) on the environment resulting from the objectives and actions proposed in this plan?
• Question 21: Do you think that the partial BRIA is an accurate representation of the potential costs, benefits and risks on the public, private or third sector, and regulators, associated with the objectives and actions proposed in this draft plan?
• Question 22: Do you think that objectives and actions proposed in this draft plan will have an impact that is significantly different (positive or negative) for some or all island communities than for other communities (including other island communities)?
• Question 23: Do you think that the objectives and actions proposed in this draft plan will have an impact (positive or negative) on protected characteristics, with particular regard to eliminating unlawful discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity and promoting good relations?
• Question 24: Do you think that the objective and actions proposed in this draft plan will have an impact (positive or negative) on children’s rights and wellbeing?